The rules-based system has underpinned New Zealand’s security, prosperity and sustainability for decades, but it is under significant strain presently with geopolitical competition, the undermining of global rules, and international budget cuts.
The Ministry has prioritised multilateral engagement focused on New Zealand’s core interests and values. One focus this year has been on reinforcing the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and improving international stewardship of oceans. Parliamentary Treaty Examination of the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity in Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) has been completed, and implementing legislation to enable New Zealand’s ratification is in train. This agreement supports countries’ shared stewardship responsibilities for the ocean and its resources by providing the tools and systems required to manage and protect high seas marine biodiversity.
This year saw the culmination of a multi-year strategy to protect Pacific sovereignty and legal entitlements over valuable maritime zones, in the face of rising sea levels. New Zealand has led in this area, working closely with Australia and our Pacific partners. We hosted a flagship event at the 2024 UN Leaders Week and led the adoption of the Apia Ocean Declaration at the CHOGM in October 2024 — both of which elevated the international profile of this important Pacific regional issue.
The Ministry played an influential role at the annual Commission on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, and the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting, in support of a strong and effective Antarctic Treaty System that is fundamental to New Zealand’s foreign policy interests.
The Ministry also played an active role in international climate change negotiations, including contributing to a successful outcome of the 29th Conference of Parties (COP29) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). New Zealand also announced its second greenhouse gas emissions reduction target under the Paris Agreement, reinforcing our commitment to global climate action.
The Ministry has worked to defend, and strengthen where possible, multilateral disarmament and nonproliferation regimes, leading cross-regional efforts to strengthen implementation of, and review the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, and consolidate the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. We served on the Executive Council of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. In partnership with Ireland, New Zealand spearheaded a UN General Assembly resolution to establish a scientific panel to provide an updated examination of the effects of nuclear war, which will inform disarmament efforts.
The Ministry has contributed actively to the ongoing development of rules and frameworks for responsible state behaviour in space and cyberspace, for example by developing an updated position on the application of international law to state activities in cyberspace. New Zealand’s strong and consistent support for international law, including international humanitarian law, remains a pillar of our international engagement. These principles have underpinned New Zealand’s responses to Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, and the Israel-Hamas conflict.
The Ministry continues to express New Zealand’s position that international law underpins international peace and security, the importance of diplomacy over military action, and the priority we attach to de-escalation of conflict. We have expressed our support, consistently, for the role of the International Criminal Court and International Court of Justice.
Demonstrating our commitment to the United Nations, New Zealand announced its intention to campaign for a seat on the UN Security Council for the 2039–40 term.
Case study: Supporting Samoa’s Hosting of a truly Pacific CHOGM
The Commonwealth of Nations — an organisation of 56 countries, most of whom share a history as former British colonies — works to promote peace and prosperity. Commonwealth leaders meet every two years to decide the organisation’s policy and activities.
Samoa hosted the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in October 2024, the first time CHOGM was hosted by a Pacific small island developing state. Samoa’s hosting represented a significant opportunity to raise the international profile of Samoa, the Pacific and key regional interests and priorities.
CHOGM 2024 was attended by King Charles III and Queen Camilla, the King of Eswatini, 22 Heads of State/Heads of Government, 38 Foreign Ministers, and approximately 3,000 delegates from Europe, Africa, Asia, North America, and the Caribbean. Our Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs both attended.
Given its importance to our close partner Samoa, and the Pacific region more broadly, New Zealand was strongly committed to supporting Samoa in its successful hosting of CHOGM.
Logistical support
The Government of Samoa invited New Zealand to assist its planning and execution of CHOGM. Our objective was to supplement Samoa’s capacity and to support Samoa’s ownership of its hosting functions. Challenges included planning for significant additional needs in security, border management, event planning, accommodation, cybersecurity, VIP transport, aviation activity, emergency management and healthcare.
New Zealand’s effort, led by the Ministry’s CHOGM Taskforce, involved the contributions of multiple agencies from Police, Defence, Customs, the Civil Aviation Authority, Ministry of Primary Industries, Ministry of Health (including the NZ Medical Assistance Team), Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (including Immigration), Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT NZ), Fire and Emergency New Zealand, Maritime NZ, Ministry of Transport and the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. The inter-agency effort also included Hato Hone St John’s first ever overseas deployment.
At its height, approximately 470 New Zealand personnel were deployed in Samoa. This included around 260 Defence personnel, 100 Police, and 50 medical specialists including doctors, nurses, and paramedics.
Meaningful outcomes
New Zealand worked closely with the Government of Samoa to support its policy and governance objectives for the meeting, including the election of the next Commonwealth Secretary-General.
Leaders agreed a Communiqué, a groundbreaking Oceans Declaration, and a Leaders’ Declaration aligned to Samoa’s CHOGM theme — One Resilient Future: Transforming our Commonwealth. The Declaration and Communiqué reaffirmed the Commonwealth’s commitment to tackling global economic, environmental, and security challenges, while exploring ways to enhance resilience, sustainable trade, and inclusive growth — with an emphasis on the empowerment of youth and women.
Importantly for the Pacific region, Commonwealth countries adopted the Apia Commonwealth Ocean Declaration for One Resilient Common Future. This calls on the 56 member nations to protect and restore the ocean in the face of severe climate change, pollution and impacts related to over-exploitation. New Zealand worked closely with Pacific states to ensure the Declaration reflected the region’s core ocean-related concerns, including by affirming the Pacific Islands Forum position that sea-level rise will not cause maritime zones to reduce.
Long-term benefits
The effectiveness and contribution of New Zealand agencies’ collaboration with Samoan counterparts to both the policy and logistical successes of CHOGM were acknowledged by Samoa’s Prime Minister Fiame in a letter to Prime Minister Luxon.
This cooperation, also coordinated with Australia, was an effective demonstration of close partners delivering significant regional and international outcomes to support our common interests.
The meeting provided an opportunity for Leaders to connect in a Pacific environment and consider how the members of the Commonwealth of Nations could work together to become more resilient in the face of global challenges.